Livingston vs Celtic – Match preview and team news

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The Football Faithful

·27 December 2025

Livingston vs Celtic – Match preview and team news

Livingston and Celtic go head-to-head in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday, both searching for momentum as the festive period concludes. Celtic are looking to build on a first win under new manager Wilfried Nancy.

Livingston vs Celtic – Match preview and team news

Date: Saturday, 27th December.
Kick-off: 3pm BST.
Venue: Home of the set fare arena.

Livingston team news

David Martindale’s side faces a mounting injury crisis ahead of the Celtic clash. Shane Blaney remains sidelined with a muscle injury, while Adam Montgomery (calf), Cameron Kerr (ankle), and Aidan Denholm (hamstring) all continue their recoveries. The Livingston boss has publicly stressed the need for January reinforcements, with the club already bringing in two new signings this month.

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Speaking to STV Sport, Martindale acknowledged the challenge ahead, stating “We definitely need reinforcements. We’ve got two players already in, but we must seek additional talent to ensure we remain in the league.” The manager also admitted his underperformance in terms of points gathered relative to the team’s performances, emphasising personal accountability in their ongoing struggles.

Celtic team news

Celtic continue to operate without several key personnel ahead of the Livingston fixture. Jota (knee), Alistair Johnston (hamstring), Callum Osmand (hamstring), and Kelechi Iheanacho (hamstring) remain unavailable. Cameron Carter-Vickers faces a prolonged absence following his Achilles injury sustained in October, and he will not feature again this season, with an expected return in April 2026.

Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Sebastian Tounekti are also not in the squad for the match, as both are unavailable due to international duty for their respective nations in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations. Marcelo Saracchi are also not available although he is nearing a return. Despite these absences, Celtic have begun their recovery under newly appointed manager Wilfried Nancy, who secured his first victory last Sunday with a victory over Aberdeen at Parkhead.

Form

Livingston

Livingston’s form presents one of the most concerning narratives in the Scottish Premiership. The West Lothian club has remained winless for over four months, with their last victory dating back to August 2025. Their recent sequence includes a 0-1 defeat to St. Mirren, a 2-2 draw against Dundee, and losses to Motherwell (0-3), Aberdeen (0-1), and Rangers (1-2).

Currently occupying 12th place with just nine points, Livingston sit three points below Kilmarnock with a game in hand, making their clash with Celtic crucial despite the daunting nature of the fixture. Martindale’s assessment reveals the squad’s frustration: the manager indicated the team has created chances in recent performances without converting them effectively, contributing to their points deficit.

Celtic

Celtic arrived at the Nancy era turbulently, beginning his tenure with four consecutive defeats. However, their recent 3-1 victory over 10-man Aberdeen marked a turning point. Benjamin Nygren opened the scoring in the 39th minute, with further goals from Kieran Tierney and James Forrest sealing a win.

The midfielder reflected on the victory, noting Celtic’s clear-cut opportunities, stating “I think we delivered a strong performance. I can’t recall how many times we struck the post; we could have netted several more goals.” Celtic now sit second in the table on 35 points, six points adrift of Hearts with a game in hand, maintaining realistic ambitions of a title challenge.